What sets Whirlaway apart from other stores is the top notch customer service provided by our highly trained and experienced staff. Each and every one of our employees possesses a passion for sports and is truly excited to get you outfitted for your favorite athletic pursuit.
Dave’s Whirlaway Sports is celebrating its 36th anniversary in 2016. Dave is proud of Whirlaway being voted Top 50 Running Specialty Stores 11 times. In addition, with over 1,000 styles of footwear, Whirlaway Sports is a New England area leader, not only in running/track & field, but also in wrestling, volleyball, cheerleading and soccer.
Dave has supported high school athletes over the years by hiring them onto his staff. Many have remained employees for decades. Dave credits his staff as his greatest asset. The most meaningful compliments from customers are about his employees’ service, professionalism and expertise, and for Dave, “it doesn’t get any better than that.” Dave values his loyal customers as well, and practices what he preaches: “A satisfied customer is our #1 goal” and “If a customer doesn’t leave saying, ‘Wow!’ we haven’t done our job.” Dave works hard to give back to the local and regional sports community through donations of awards, prizes and sponsorships for high school and charity events, and promotions to reward loyal customers.
A former distance runner and 2001 Methuen High School Hall of Famer, Dave has been dedicated to promoting racing and coaching elite runners. For a decade, Dave hosted the Whirlaway 10K Classic, which became part of the New England Grand Prix Championship Series in 2004 and 2005. As a coach, Dave worked with Methuen High School girls’ distance runners from 1984 – 1988. He founded and coaches the renowned Whirlaway Racing Team. Dave’s elite performers have earned hundreds of team and individual accolades over 36 years. His runners include several New England and nationally-ranked athletes, Olympic athletes, and American and world record holders in 4 x 1600 meters for both Male Masters and 50 and Over divisions. In 2012 and 2013, Whirlaway racers won five divisions of the New England Grand Prix Championship Series in road racing and four titles in 2015.
Dave’s own running accomplishments include the following:
- High School Cross Country All American 1978
- Boston Globe and Boston Herald All Scholastic
- Massachusetts State Divisional Mile Champion 1979
- Dartmouth Relays High School Mile Invitational Champion 1978
- Six-time Lawrence Eagle Tribune All Scholastic
- Methuen High School record holder of the Indoor Mile for 28 years
- Won 3 Gold Medals: 800, Mile, and 2-Mile at Armenian Olympics in Fresno, CA; 1977, 1978
- Voted Outstanding Male Athlete, Armenian Olympics: 1977
- Captain of 3 undefeated teams senior year with 29-0 record (Cross country, Indoor and Outdoor Track) that helped bring Methuen its first Dalton Trophy Award
- Won 22 out of 24 races during cross country with 5 course records junior and senior years
- 4 Year combined team record for cross country, Indoor/Outdoor Track 107-9
- Four-time National Junior Olympic Competitor
- Recipient of track scholarship to Southern Illinois University 1979
- Inducted into Methuen Hall of Fame 2001
Employee since: 1999
Position: Store Manager & Buyer
High School: Andover High School
College: UMass Amherst , Majored in Education
PRs: 5K-16:30, 5miler – 27:24, 10K-34:48
Maggi brings over 30 years of retail experience to the table. She is an accomplished footwear and apparel buyer and serves as the store’s General Manager. Maggi has been the distance coach at North Andover High School for 16 years and has had several of her athletes move on and excel at the collegiate level.
Her experience as a member of the Whirlaway Racing Team for several years enhances her knowledge as a runner and makes her an expert on knowing what runners need.
Maggi is a former cross country & track athlete and was inducted into the Andover High School Hall of Fame. She is a former New England 5K and 8K Champion as well.
Employee since: 20
02
Position: Apparel Buyer & Marketing Coordinator
College: The Academy of Economics Studies Bucharest, Romania, BS in Economics
MBA Graduate, Salem State University
Adriana is originally from Romania and moved with her family to US in 2001. She started as a part time employee as her focus was her family and school at that time. After getting her master’s degree she decided to combine her knowledge with her passion for clothes and work as an apparel buyer. She also worked for the Fashion Institute in Bucharest where she was exposed to the process of clothes designing and manufacturing. Customers’ requests and needs come first when she makes decisions regarding purchasing new athletic apparel. She enjoys working with her colleagues and is grateful for all their support over the years.
When not working, Adriana loves spending time with her family, traveling and cooking. Her biggest accomplishment is her two daughters and a caring husband.
E
mployee since: 2004
Position: Sports Specialist
High School: Methuen High School
College: Attending University of Massachusetts Lowell
Ryan is a veteran member of the Whirlaway Sports staff. He started work at the store as a high school student in the summer of 2004. With a wealth of knowledge and passion for the sport of running, he enjoys servicing all of Whirlaway’s customer’s. Ryan boasts extensive knowledge of footwear and apparel technologies and trends.
Ryan was an avid soccer and baseball player growing up, he was introduced to the sport of running as a freshman at Methuen High School and was hooked instantly. He was a three time member of the Rangers MVC Conference championship teams in cross country and a senior captain of the indoor and outdoor track squads.
As a member of the New England College cross country team, he was the first runner in school history to earn All-Conference honors.
Ryan also enjoys gardening and hanging out with his friends.
Employee since: 2001
Position: Sports Specialist
College: Fairmont State University, BA in Education
Attended the University of Notre Dame, Scholarship in football
PRs: Boston Marathon (numerous of times) 2:47
Sam has had impressive careers both professionally and athletically. He was a two sport athlete at Fairmont State, playing both football and baseball. While there he became an NAIA All-American in football two years in a row. Sam also won the NAIA National Championship his Junior and Senior year.
After graduation, he moved to the New England area and worked in the high-tech manufacturing industry as supervisor and production manager for numerous companies. Sam taught two years of Printed circuit technology at Northern Essex Community College. After 20+ years in manufacturing, he entered the retail business and worked 7 years at Athlete’s Corner in Andover.
Sam enjoys meeting customers and performs gait analysis to make sure each customer is fitted into the correct shoe. We are very proud to have Sam on our team. His experience, wisdom and knowledge make him one of our most requested sports specialist at Whirlaway.
Sam enjoys biking, hiking, cooking and spending time with his three grandchildren.
Employee since: 2011
Position: Sports Specialist
High School: Pinkerton Academy
College: Keene State College
- USA Cycling Coach
- Certified Spin Instructor
- CPR and First Aid Certified
- Qualifier for National Age Group Triathlon Championship 2011 & 2012 &2013& 2014
Amy has had a passion for athletics her entire life. She’s a former semi-pro women’s soccer player and was ranked 8th in the nation while playing soccer at Keene State College. Amy was voted amateur player of the year in NH in 1996.
Employee since: 2016
Position: Sports Specialist
High School: North Andover (2011)
College: Fitchburg State University (2015) – Business
- Captain of Fitchburg State University varsity soccer team
- Led team to first ever NCAA tournament birth
- Helped team win first MASCAC conference tournament in 26 years
- MASCAC tournament MVP, Team Midfielder of the Year
Brett is a welcome addition to the Whirlaway staff as he brings exceptional soccer expertise to the table. In addition to his athletic accomplishments, Brett has taken advantage of opportunities to volunteer in the local community. He volunteered to help direct the Special Olympics while he was in school.
Brett hopes to create an impact at Whirlaway Sports Center and also wishes to maintain the stellar reputation of the store while enhancing the store’s soccer department. In his free time Brett enjoys playing soccer, basketball, softball, and hiking trails across the north-east. Brett is an avid fan of Manchester United.
E
mployee since: 2017
Position: Sports Specialist
High School: Andover High School
College: Bridgewater State University
Michael Stuart, better known as M-Stu, ran cross country and track & field for Andover High School and Bridgewater State University. He is currently taking time off from school and continues to run unattached. During M-Stu’s freshman year of high school, he was recommended to visit Whirlaway Sports to get a serious pair of running shoes for winter track. Once he did, his times went down drastically over the course of the next few weeks, creating a newfound passion for running and the sport of track & field. His main goal at Whirlaway is to give back to the running community by inspiring the same sort of confidence and love for running in the youth of today, just like himself years ago.
Employee since: 2016
Position: Sports Specialist
High School: Pelham High School
College: Merrimack College
- Bachelors in Sports Medicine
- Master in Exercise and Sports Science
- Member of the Greater Lowell Road Runners
- Greater Lowell Runners Apparel Committee
Erika is very excited to join the Whirlaway Sports Team! With a background in Sports Medicine and Exercise and Sports Science, Erika specifically has an interest in the science behind the motion of the human body. As a graduate student she was a Biomechanics Graduate Fellow and assisted on a running gait analysis research project.
Erika hopes that with her knowledge of the running and walking gait cycle, she will be able to find the perfect walking, running, or gym shoe for you. In her free time Erika enjoys running, doing yoga (or attempting to do yoga), and baking.
E
mployee since: 2013
Position: Sports Specialist
High School: North Andover High School
College: UMass Amherst
PRs: 2:00.00 -800m, 4:31.67 –mile, 9:59.64 -two mile, 16:22.5 -5k
Zach began working at Whirlaway while attending North Andover High School. He served as the captain of their cross country, indoor track, and outdoor Track teams He fell in love with running after his first cross country race. He believes running helps him be successful in school and ultimately a better family member and friend. Zach’s favorite subjects are math and history and hopes to make running a lifetime pursuit.
